Steve Bruce has undergone quite the transformation since leaving Hull

It’s amazing to see what a couple of months away from the East Riding of Yorkshire does.

Steve Bruce The bad old days. Image Getty

Steve Bruce took advantage of an appearance on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday to showcase his new, shockingly streamline appearance.

The 55-year-old has been out of the game since resigning as manager of Hull City in July.

His time away from football appears to have been doing him the world of good though, with Bruce appearing considerably trimmer than he was during his days at the KC Stadium.

Given Hull’s notoriety for being one of the most depressing places in the United Kingdom, coupled with the Yorkshire town’s penchant for Greggs, it’s understandable if Bruce turned to the occasional steak bake to ease the stress of managing the club.

Relegated from the Premier League under Bruce back in 2015, Hull were expected to bounce back at the first time of asking last season and managed that – just.

Promoted via the play-offs, it’s likely that Hull’s fraught ascent back to the top tier of English football saw Bruce allay any anxiety with a fair few Toblerones and maybe even a few Rustlers microwaveable burgers as well for good measure.

But those days are behind him now, with Bruce looking, in the words of Radiohead circa OK Computer, “Fitter, Happier, More Productive.”

Sexy Steve Bruce Yeah. We said it. Image @SarcyFringehead/Twitter

This new-look Bruce may not be around for long though, with reports suggesting the former Wigan, Sunderland and Birmingham manager is the front-runner to take over at Aston Villa.

Without a manager since the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, the Villans are also currently languishing down in 19th in the Championship and are already 10 points off the play-off places.

Sounds stressful – Bruce is probably stocking up on Dairy Milk and Doritos as we speak.